PhD Studentship in earthquake geodesy and machine-learning: Using machine-learning and satellite radar to detect “silent” earthquakes in the Zagros Mountains, Iran

We are pleased to announce that an exciting opportunity has arisen for a fully funded, three year PhD studentship to start in February 2019 on the following topic:

Using machine-learning and satellite radar to detect “silent” earthquakes in the Zagros Mountains, Iran
(https://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/earth.sciences/postgraduate/2018/GCRF_CDT_PhD_Walters_AlMoubayed.pdf)

Primary Supervisor: Dr Richard Walters, Department of Earth Sciences (https://www.dur.ac.uk/directory/profile/?id=14664)

At Durham, you will join the newly established Global Challenges Research Fund Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT). The CDT will support a cohort of around 20 students working on a specific challenge in one or more of the areas of the UN Sustainable Development Goals with all PhD students coming from a DAC nation. All PhD projects are interdisciplinary and will be supervised by academic staff from different departments in partnership with an academic institution in an overseas DAC nation. This studentship will also involve collaboration with the UK’s Centre for the Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, volcanoes and Tectonics (COMET).

Eligibility and How to Apply

This PhD studentship will provide full payment of international tuition fees and a tax-free maintenance grant set at the UK Research Councils' National Rate, which is £14,777 per year for 2018/19. In addition, the studentship includes funds for return travel and visa costs for the applicant’s home nation, an allowance to cover research costs and training, and support for an overseas placement during the PhD at the DAC nation partner institution (IIEES, Iran).

Funding is available to an overseas candidate based in a DAC nation (http://www.oecd.org/dac/financing-sustainable-development/development-finance-standards/DAC_List_ODA_Recipients2018to2020_flows_En.pdf), with preference given to candidates from Iran. Applicants must meet the university’s academic PhD entry requirement which is a 2:1 honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject. Non-native English speakers require an English language qualification equivalent to IELTS 6.5 with no element less than 6.0 (https://www.dur.ac.uk/learningandteaching.handbook/1/3/3/1/). Durham University is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and with diverse life experiences.

Students must begin their research on February 1st 2019. There is an application deadline of 17:00 (GMT) Friday 7th September 2018.

Applicants will need to apply via the online application form and submit all the requested documents listed here: https://www.dur.ac.uk/earth.sciences/postgraduate/applying/

Interviews will take place in mid-September.

Please contact Ms. Veronica Crooks for questions about the application process:
Ms. Veronica Crooks, Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, DH1 3LE [Email Address Removed]
+44 (0)191 334 2198.

For technical questions about the project, please contact Dr Richard Walters ([Email Address Removed])